Iran and Iraq go to war with the Kurds over Kirkuk. Rev Guards take part in defiance of US

Baghdad claimed that Iraqi units led the operation launched early Monday against the Kurds over Kirkuk.. DEBKAfile: Pro-Iranian Shiite militias are in the forefront.
An Iranian-Iraqi war on the semiautonomous Kurdish Republic of Iraq was launched early Monday, Oct. 16, around Iraq’s northern oil center of Kirkuk. It began with an attack on the K1 military air base, the town’s airport and the oil fields south of the city. An official Baghdad statement named Iraq’s Security forces (ISF), its Counterterrorism Services (CTS) its Federal Police and the Shiite Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) as leading the engagement in three columns with the Kurdish Peshmerga defending the city.

However, DEBKAfile’s military and intelligence sources report that pro-Iranian Shiite militias were the spearhead of the operation, fighting under the direct command of Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Gen. Qassem Soleimani. They consist of the Shiite Badr Organization’s Turkmen Brigade, the 16th PMU brigade and the 41st, 42nd and 43rd brigades of the Asai’b Ahl al-Haq forces of the PMU.
Iranian Revolutionary Guards officers have been placed at the head of each of the Shiite units taking part in the Kirkuk operation against the Kurds.
The makeup of these forces is highly significant for two reasons:

Iraqi elite units have substantial Kurdish fighting elements which are not trusted not to turn against their comrades.

The Turkmen Brigade’s participation is intended to draw the Turkmen population of Kirkuk (25pc of around 1 million inhabitants) over to the side of the attackers.
In the early hours of the operation, Iraqi Prime Minister Haydar Al-Abadi held back from sending his air force into the fray, hoping to prevent the Kirkuk operation against the Kurds from blowing up into a broad civil conflict like the Syrian war.

He also feared the US, which opposed his assault, would disrupt Iraqi aerial activity. US fighter jets were sighted over the battle arena Monday monitoring events.
Therefore the Iraqi war effort is confined for now to tanks, heavy artillery, mortars and heavy machine guns.

Our military sources report that 15,000 Kurdish fighter are arrayed to defend Kirkuk. The bulk consist of local Peshmerga fighters, but Kurdish militiamen are pouring in all the time from outside.

Overnight, thousands of Turkish PKK Kurdish separatists came down from their hideouts in the northern Iraqi Qandil mountains to support the defenders. The first Syrian Kurdish YPG militia units, having interrupted their engagement against the Islamic State in eastern Syria, were spotted lining up on the Syrian-Iraqi border ready to attack Iranian-Iraqi contingents from the rear.

It was unclear whether American troops were in the area Monday morning. A spokesman for the US-led coalition in Baghdad did not immediately respond to a request for comment. This no-comment response cannot hide the failure of President Donald Trump and his Defense Secretary James Mattis to prevent the outbreak of hostilities between two US allies provoked by Tehran.
A small American advance command center is stationed in Kirkuk. While American officers tried to broker a compromise agreement between the parties to prevent the fighting, the Iranian Guards general Soleimani was busy orchestrating the Kirkuk warfront. And he achieved Tehran’s goal, the outbreak of a war between the Iraqi Army and the Peshmerga, both trained and equipped by the United States for battling Islamic State.

23 thoughts on “Iran and Iraq go to war with the Kurds over Kirkuk. Rev Guards take part in defiance of US”

The idolatrous belief in the false national image represented by the Zionist state entity, will evaporate. Militancy aggression and murder will never be a savior to the people of Israel. Gold cannot buy peace.

Iranians – surely this is what they meant by a “response to Trump” i.e. “treat them like ISIS”
If Trump has a back bone he will pledge support for the Kurds over these Iranian terrorist bastards and their Iraqi grunts.

Another hell brewing and expanding in that region. What an utter long term mess Bush created by his incompetence. More innocent men women and children suffering and being maimed and killed in the cradle of civilization.

If USA and Israel had good relations with Turks
Turkish Government and army would support Barzani against Iran and Shiite Ibadi.
It’s nonsense to think kurdistan will live without support of Turkey.
Arthur Koestler said Turks are the 13. tribe and name of togarma’s brother is askenazi .The peace in the world will arise upon the hands of nonsamian Jewish(Turks) and samians.

I totally support the kurdish people. No 👨man has the moral right to subject his fellow man to inhumanity. The kurdish people have suffered a lot and they deserve to be left alone. They deserve peace and self rule. Let Israel and America confront Iran in Iraq. Enough is enough. If it will shame to Israel and America if they failed to support the kurdish people. This is well calculated efforts to push the Americans out of middle east entirely.

President Trump’s response to this latest Iranian will describe either a change or continuation of an American policy of retreat from the Middle East. America’s “allies,” from the Saudis to Egypt and Israel are watching carefully the actions of the new president. American interests in the region, oil, the Suez Canal and the shipping lanes; resisting Russian challenge: these all remain despite its military failures. What remains to be seen is whether America has the heart to conduct itself as a superpower.

As von Clausewitz wrote, war is an extension of politics. But politics minus credibility is toothless diplomacy: an invitation to adventurism and war.

DEBKA, I appreciate you allowing comments. An Edit option would be helpful

President Trump’s response to this latest Iranian provocation will describe either a change or continuation of an American policy of retreat from the Middle East, particularly evident in Obama. America’s “allies,” from the Saudis to Egypt and Israel are watching carefully the actions of the new president. American interests in the region: oil, the Suez Canal and the shipping lanes; resisting Russian challenge: these all remain despite America’s military failures in Iraq and Afghanistan. What remains to be seen is whether America has the heart to conduct itself as a superpower.

As von Clausewitz wrote, war is an extension of politics. But politics minus credibility is toothless diplomacy: an invitation to adventurism and war.

Iran, or more correctly Persia, has always excelled at dividing their enemies, promises of gold or threats of retribution. Its astonishing that the same tactics used against Athens and Sparta are still working against their enemies 2500 years later.
Shame, the Kurds could’ve had something, Instead, they divided.
Dont they listen to history? United they stand, divided they fall….